Overview

Offering financial incentives to support healthy behaviours has been established as an effective way to encourage positive change. Research shows that this approach can help people reduce substance use, stay longer in treatment, and improve engagement in services. For people who are unemployed and unhoused who also struggle with substance use disorders, these incentives may also improve well-being and financial stability. However, using incentives on a large scale to treat opioid use disorder has never been broadly attempted or evaluated. .

A group of researchers at BCCSU are piloting a study of a health incentives intervention for people seeking care for opioid use disorder. This study, Evaluating Longitudinal Evidence for using financial interVentions to Address and Treat Opioid Use Disorder Effectively (the ELEVATE Study), will examine the feasibility and acceptability of a financial intervention.

In this intervention, participants with a goal of reducing their opioid use will work with an addiction physician to develop an individualized and flexible treatment plan. After they have demonstrated engagement with their treatment plan, they will receive a cash incentive every week for 12 weeks to support their treatment engagement.

Objectives

This study examines the feasibility and effectiveness of this intervention. We hypothesize that it will produce lasting positive results by removing financial and social barriers to accessing care and motivating people to stay engaged in their treatment plans.

Inclusion Criteria

In order to participate in this study, participants must be adults with moderate or severe opioid use disorder who are receiving non-administered government assistance. Participants must be seeking treatment for opioid use disorder, but not have been involved in care in the past 4 weeks.

Recruitment

To schedule an appointment, please contact:

Partners

• Providence Health Care (PHC)
• University of British Columbia (UBC)
• St. Paul’s Foundation

Funders

• St. Paul’s Foundation
• Canada Research Coordinating Committee, New Frontiers in Research Fund